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International Sociology
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Measurement Equivalence in Solidarity Attitudes in Europe

Insights from a Multiple-Group Latent-Class Factor Approach

Milos Kankaras

Tilburg University, m.kankarash{at}uvt.nl

Guy Moors

Tilburg University, guy.moors{at}uvt.nl

Comparing solidarity attitudes of European citizens is highly relevant in the context of European integration and unification. Such comparisons, however, are only valid if responses to attitude questions reflect true differences in solidarity and, hence, the measurement of latent solidarity attitudes is comparable. Often comparability is assumed, rarely is it tested. This research presents a multiple-group latent-class factor analysis of a set of questions concerning solidarity towards different social groups, taken from the 1999/2000 wave of the European Value Study. This multiple-group comparison reveals that equivalence in attitude measurement is not established straightforwardly. However, once the sources of measurement inequivalence are taken into account, valid comparison between countries is possible. It turns out that European countries are less divided on the solidarity attitudes than would have been concluded from a model that did not account for heterogeneity in measurement. At the same time, the improved model only slightly altered country rankings on solidarity dimensions.

Key Words: comparative survey research • latent-class factor analysis • measurement equivalence • solidarity attitudes

International Sociology, Vol. 24, No. 4, 557-579 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0268580909334502
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